Difficult to climb, hard to ascend.
Nira láti gòkè, kún fún ìṣòro.
The figure in the mirage appears to the eye.
Àwòrán nínú ìrì ń hàn sí ojú ẹni.
At times it is seen, and at times it vanishes.
Nígbà míì a rí i, nígbà míì kò hàn.
I arrived as the sun spat out its saliva of light.
Mo dé nígbà tí oorun ń tú ìmọ́lẹ̀ rẹ̀ ká.
And the shadow beneath the sandal was trampled.
Ìbòjú lábẹ́ bàtà ni a tẹ̀ mọ́lẹ̀.
A night visitor whom the wolf befriends when.
Alejò òru tí kìnnìún bá nígbà tí…
The wolf twists in hunger and howls at night.
Kìnnìún ń yí sílẹ̀ nítorí ebi, ó sì ń ké ní alẹ́.
He sought refuge at my fire, which is a gathering place.
Ó wá ààbò ní iná mi, ibi tí a ti ń kó jọ.
Its light calls wanderers toward the villages.
Ìmọ́lẹ̀ rẹ̀ ń pè arìnrìn-àjò sí abúlé.
By God, what a vision of a visiting phantom.
Nípa Ọlọ́run, ìran àjèjì tí ń bọ̀ wá.